“These are my friends,” David introduced them.
The man said, “I am Jeff and this is my son, Kevin.” The boy stepped out and gave them a wave. He looked at Cody's hand.
“What happened to your hand?” he said.
Cody said, “Scorpion bit me.”
The man shuddered, “Shoot fire, man! That hurts, happened to me out in Arizona.”
“Where did you travel from?” asked Cody.
“Oh, we came from California originally. That's been a long time ago.” said Jeff.
The boy looked at Shawna and Ashley, “My momma died,” he said in a dull voice.
“I am very sorry,” said Ashley. “Why don't you come inside and sit down for a while? Know what...I think I have some cookies.” The boy's eyes brightened.
Jeff looked at the boy, “Go ahead son. After I get the donkeys some water, I will come over.”
David said, “Let me show you that tub.” He went with the man.
It was later in the afternoon and the temperature had cooled quite a bit. The four friends and Jeff and Kevin sat by the fire. Ashley had dug around and found the jar of cookies that she had been saving since the stay at the school house building. When cookies or crackers or other dry goods were packed in a jar, heated slowly and at a low temperature and sealed with a rubber lined lid, they would keep a very long time. The homemade cookies still tasted fresh and they all shared them.
They exchanged their stories. Kevin's mother had died five years before. It wasn't a serious illness but there just was no medicine, complications set in. Jeff had built his interesting transportation and he and his son had been traveling across country since. They had meandered around, trying to avoid the worst of the weather seasons. Just like the friends, they had encountered good and bad people. Jeff had been an engineer and a member of the National Guard. He had been smart and cautious and they had survived.
Kevin spoke up, “Yeah, we have to keep moving 'cause we are the United States Postal Service.”
Jeff just smiled and the others looked at him. “You are what?” said Shawna.
Jeff said, “Um-m, come out here a minute.” They followed him out to the wagon that looked like a gypsy peddler's wagon. Hanging near the front on one side, a large canvas bag had U S MAIL written on it, in what looked like ink marker. “We have been picking up letters as we go along from folks. Of course, we can make no promises but if we find some of the people that the letters are written to, we will deliver them.”
“But how would you...how could you remember.....” said Ashley.
“I'll show you,” said Jeff. Back inside, he took out a tattered road atlas. “See, here is your State. Well, actually Texas has to be on more than one page. Anyway, if you gave me a letter, I would find that Unity that you talked about on this map. I would place a star there and if Kevin and I get close to that place, we would deliver your letter. Maybe they would give us a letter to return.”
Kevin said, “Sometimes we don't find anybody. Sometimes we do and that is fun.”
The friends thought that was amazing. Ashley thought about the small journal that she wrote in, on their trip. Jack and Beth's daughter, Dianne used to be so faithful to writing in the family journal from the time that the world had changed. Her journal was not only beautifully written but the history of the events. She wasn't so good at keeping up her journal, she did make a few notes about the journey as they went along. “I would love to send a letter,” she said. “Gosh, I don't even have an envelope.”
Kevin sprang up, “We got lots of envelopes...even some real pretty ones.” He ran out to the wagon.
Cody said, “We can show you on the map where the good and welcoming people that we have met are surviving. If you make it to Unity, you can trust them, they will welcome you. And we can tell you where to stay away from.”
Jeff said, “Yes, that would be good. We are not coming from the direction you are now heading, so we can't help you in that way. We may find you in the future. I don't plan on us staying in one place. This mail had become very important to me, we will continue to travel.”
They all shook hands and before the darkness fully set in, they looked at maps. Jeff and Kevin dug around in their wagon and brought some canned green beans and an old box of mac and cheese to add to supper. The friends had a rabbit that Shawna had shot earlier in the day and a couple of jars that the school house people had given them, corn and tomato with onions and peppers. It was a good meal and they all really enjoyed each others company. Ashley kept looking at Kevin and thinking, just as she had when they stayed at the school house for three weeks...wouldn't it be great to have a child...of course, preferably a child of her and Cody's. She hugged the scrubby little boy and banished thoughts from her mind of things that she might not ever have. This after world had taught her to not dwell on such things. She did note that Jeff must be a good and loving father because Kevin was such a smart and giving boy. Was that genetics or was it learned?
Next morning, the friends were ready to move on to the mountain pass that would take them into Colorado, to Jack and Beth's cabin. Jeff and Kevin had their comical wagon ready to head south. Jeff said, “You know, we are heading south because winter is coming on soon. North, is not really the direction to head this time of year.”
Ashley letter to her family at Unity and a note from Cody to his uncle Lee were tucked away in the US Mail bag. Cody reached out to shake Jeff's hand, “I know that it will soon be winter weather in the mountains. I am still optimistic that we will make it before the worst of it. You two be safe and remember the places I marked on the map.” Jeff nodded okay.
Kevin had the reins to the donkeys and said, “Go donkeys.” The wagon clattered and banged off into the deserted lands that led to the Texas border. Jeff and the boy waved to the wagon that was heading north, Cody riding in the back, Ashley driving with David and Shawna walking the road. They should be at the border high pass in two days.
It was the dawn of the day that the travelers would reach the town at the base of the mountain pass. David had finished the last watch and planned to get just an hour or so of sleep before they were back on the road. They had all began to wear their coats during the night watches, the air was consistently more than just cool. He moved to his sleeping bag in the quiet camp. In the very first light he realized that Ashley's sleeping bag was flat and empty. He looked around quickly, starting to panic and about to raise the alarm. Then he saw an outline much wider than one person, in Cody's sleeping place. He saw a mass of strawberry blonde hair, spilling over the arm that encircled the woman cuddled up close to his best friend, his brother. He just shook his head and smiled to himself, climbing in his own bag.
When the sun was up and the camp was washed with light, Shawna stood over her two friends with her hands on her hips, “Good morning, would you two lovebirds like some coffee?”
They both sat up, wiped the sleep from their eyes and more than a bit embarrassed said, um-m, oh yeah...that would be good. They all four cracked up with laughter. Cody pulled Ashley back down to him and gave her a smothering kiss. “Too bad,” said David, “But we have to get moving. You two make me want to just stay in the old sleeping bags all day.” He gave Shawna a suggestive look.
“Yeah, gotta get on the move. I think we will make the pass today.” The truth was Ashley had unzipped Cody's sleeping bag and slid in next to him, after her watch the night before. She was tired of waiting. They were together, all of them, and they were going to be together. Who knew what lay ahead in the journey over the mountain pass. She wasn't taking any chances or waiting any longer to be with Cody. With her next to him, he let all the feelings that he had told himself there was no time or place for, spill out into her willing embrace. It wasn't long before he was pushing her hair behind her ear and whispering, “I love you, Ashley.”
“I love you more, Cody.” They had slept the oblivious sleep that only love and passion brings.
***
Back on the road again, the mo
untains that had been blue misty shadows were becoming more and more clear. The craggy rocky tops were visible and the tree dotted slopes and on a very top peak, white sparkled. It looked like someone had dropped a big dollop of snowy icing, dribbling it over the towering cap. The travelers had reached the northern border of the enchanted state. Colorado was ahead and up.
They reached the Interstate highway that ran nearly directly north and cut the state of Colorado in half, and would take them over the pass. A little farther to the west of the Interstate lay the old border city. They did not want to investigate the town. Their experience had proven that these towns that sat on the intersections of Interstate and other highways were popular places for survivors to gather. So far, they had found that these were not usually the good groups of survivors. The map showed that it was about ten miles to the summit, the highest point of the road into Colorado. They should be able to easily reach that summit in less than a day, however they were not sure at all. The rising elevation, the unpredictable weather and conditions would be another new challenge. They agreed to camp at the base of the pass and start out fresh the next morning.
When they had set up camp, they made sure the horses were well fed and watered. Cody had been thinking about the loaded wagon and wondering how capable the horses would be at pulling the load over the pass. He said, “I remember this story that Jack told, a story that his mother thought was funny and used to tell him. Jack's mother had learned to drive an automobile in the early part of the twentieth century. Her father owned a Ford automobile from the late 1920's. She would laugh and say when they traveled away from their west Texas farm, it became quite hilly. Sometimes the old auto would spit and sputter and not want to climb a hill, sometimes go dead. They would jump out, her brother and herself and place rocks behind the wheels, so they would not lose ground. Start the car back up and continue on.”
The friends thought that was pretty funny, too. They weren't sure what the point of this particular tale was but it was entertaining. Cody paused and looked at them, his eye brows lifting in question. The three friends looked at each other and shrugged. “So-o-o?” said David.
Cody said, “If this climb gets too steep and difficult for the horses, we may have to do the same thing...block up the wheels. One thing I see plenty of around here is rocks. I also think we will need to walk and lead the horses, not put any extra weight in the wagon. I just want us to be ready if the wagon begins to slip or the horses begin to balk.
Oh-h...oh yeah...that's a good idea, they all chimed in.
Cody had first watch, wearing one of the heavy coats and gloves. This evening had really turned cold and they had dug around in the wagon for the blankets. Ashley spread her sleeping bag next to Cody's empty one and climbed in. Morning was gray, heavy clouds hanging over the mountains. All of them wearing their coats, they started the slow climb with David and Shawna leading the horses, Ashley and Cody walking beside the wagon. So far, this was probably the coldest temperatures they had known since they had left their east Texas home. The clouds stayed and the day was not warming. It was slow going but the horses seemed to be holding up. Hundreds of miles of walking had made the four friends strong and fit. However, they were feeling the changing elevation and like the horses they were moving slow.
The barely readable signs, Leaving New Mexico and Welcome to Colorful Colorado had crept by. Cody thought they probably had covered less than five miles. The first white fluffy flake dropped onto his coat sleeve. By the time he looked up, there were thick flurries of the small white flakes drifting around them. Back home, they didn't often see snow, so the four were instantly excited, catching the flakes on their tongues and fingers. Cody noticed that the flakes were melting away at first, then they started to form a white cover on the cracked road. He did not know what the temperature was, a thermometer was something that they had neglected to pack. It felt very cold to him. The horses were tousling their manes. He was not sure, should they keep on moving or should they stop. He told the others, “Let's keep moving unless we start sliding or the horses start slipping. I really am not sure but let's try to keep going.”
Sometimes the flakes were light and nearly stopped and then they would come down heavy and big as a half dollar. Their hands and faces were freezing and the horses seemed to take a step and then halt. It had been nearly four hours and they finally saw a stone marker that read, Raton Pass Summit, elevation 7,835 ft. A large area circled out from the road, a look-out point. They pulled the horses and wagon over onto the area. They were all exhausted and cold. They pulled up the tarp that covered the wagon supplies, cold white sheets sliding to the ground. They tarp had been folded triple, they left part of it over the supplies and extended what was left out, propping up the ends with a couple of shovels. On the side away from the blowing snow, this created some type of shed. The rocket stove was going to be their best bet for a fire. They managed to dig around for enough fuel to get it going and begin to warm a little. They covered the horses with blankets and decided they better feed them some of the grains. The stove got warm enough to melt away some of the snow from the rocky soil, in a circle surrounding it. The snow still floated down and now sleet peppered the tarp off and on. Before it got completely dark, they broke limbs from scrubby trees and dug around all they could in what appeared to be about six inches of snow, for fuel to keep the fire going. It would be a cold night and they would have to sleep sitting up by the fire.
Daylight brought bright sun making the white blanket on the ground sparkle. The four had finally fell asleep huddled against the wagon. The stove still was slightly warm and David begin to stuff more twigs in it. Cody checked the horses and removed the wet blankets from them. They were then standing, rather breathless and looking out at the view that they had not been able to see the evening before. Ashley said, “Oh my god, that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
From the very top of the pass the view stretched for miles, mountains and valleys. As the views stretched out and down, the white cover faded away. The snow had only accumulated in the higher elevations. Even with the clear sky and the bright sun, the snow here was not melting yet. The temperature remained cold. They tore themselves away from the beauty. Cody said, “Now the trick is going to be to get down from the pass. If we can get a little lower down, it will probably be fine. For a while, it is going to be steep and slick. We will need those shovels. We will have to clear some tracks for the wagon.
It was another hard and completely draining six hours. They shoveled paths for the wagon wheels to roll, they often pushed back against the loaded cart to keep it from running wild and away. The coats came off and they struggled along every few feet of the downside of the mountain pass. Sometimes as the road twisted it's way around the base of a mountain, large rocks cluttered the road. Two different times they had to guide and push the horses and wagon precariously close to the outer edge of the road, which was a straight down drop into a rocky valley. At long last, the travelers begin to walk in less and less snow cover and the road leveled off some, leading towards the first town of Colorado.
As they stepped on clear pavement, David said, “I am sorry, I can't go another step.” They all four stood against the wagon, their heads down.
Cody said, “I am with you. Let's find a place to camp and let some of this stuff dry out.” He looked back where they had just came from. “I know it's hard to believe, I think that we are only about sixty miles from the cabin.” The women were too bone tired to even talk. After nearly five months and over seven hundred miles, that thought was the only thing keeping them all from wanting to roll up in a ball and quit.
Chapter Eleven
THE CABIN
The third week of September was just the start of Fall and the wintry weather did not stay. The sun was bright for the next three days. Once the traveler's were past the first Colorado town, the road was mostly flat. The meadows on each side of the Interstate that they now rolled along, swept up to mountain ranges to the west of the
m and out to endless plains to the east. The temperatures were mild, the grasses were abundant for the horses and the traveling was pleasant. It was the afternoon of the fourth day when the wagon and adventurers pulled off of the Interstate and into the small old town. At this town, they would head west again and then the very last four miles north that would lead them to the cabin. At least they hoped with all their weary hearts that they would find that cabin.
As impatient as they all were to be searching for that cabin, they agreed that they should check out any possible supplies in the deserted town. Cody said, “If we find the cabin, it will be pretty far and isolated. Not that anything is left in these towns anymore. We do need to scavenge anything we can though.” He paused and pushed back his long hair, under his hat. “I guess this is a hell of a time to be saying this. We had all gotten used to the support and the life that we built up at Unity. You have all been fantastic on this journey. We have stuck together and we have nearly made it. But, now...”
Ashley interrupted him, “Cody, we all knew exactly what we were getting into when we left Unity. No matter what we find, we are going to make a new life.” She placed her hand over his.
David took Shawna's hand, “A new life together...here.”
“Okay, let's check this place out and stay for the night. Tomorrow, we find a home.” said Cody.
So much of the town was rotted away. Yet, their favorite old trick worked to a degree. Looking underneath shelves. In a liquor store, an old grocery store, what had been the town pharmacy and a dollar store, metal shelves still stood. Raking under the shelves did produce a few cans of food and bottles of booze, a few more useful items. They also raked out a thing or two that they did not want, such as a rat, one dead... one not. This sent the women running for the wagon.
No Normal Day III (West) Page 12